Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust
  • Latest news

    16 Apr 2026

    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment

    Geoff Davis has recently been in his element, carrying a slope stability assessment for a holiday park that has recently seen some quite dramatic ground movements.One thing that this project has highlighted is that for all the new technologies that are available to help us understand the ground, including LiDAR, drone surveys, remote sensing and inclinometers, all of which we intend to use on this site, they are of little use if the ground model is not understood. And this understanding of geology and geomorphology only come from a combination of education and experience.It is hoped that our understanding of the landslide processes at this complex site will allow us to predict possible future behaviour and assist in developing a long-term strategy for the future of the holiday park and its management.

    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment
    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment
  • Recent projects

    Combined Geotechnical Consultancy Services Provided for Residential Development, Devon

    Ruddlesden geotechnical has provided a combination of several geotechnical consultancy services for a large and on-going residential development site in Torbay. The geology of clay underlain limestone has resulted in a number of geotechnical hazards, primarily associated with solution features in the limestone, which have had implications on foundations, drainage and excavations. Using information obtained from a combination of geophysics, trial pits, dynamic sampling/ windowless sample boreholes and rotary boreholes, foundation recommendations have locally included reinforcement and widening to reduce ground bearing pressures. Deep bore soakaways have been recommended to avoid the potential wash-out of near surface soils, which might be caused by conventional soakaways in these ground conditions. In addition, terracing of a slope in part of the site generated significant quantities of soil. Rather than disposing of this at landfill, a material re-use suitability assessment was undertaken, which allowed an earthworks specification to be produced, which itself enabled ground levels to be raised on another area of the site, reducing the need to mechanically break-out near-surface bedrock for excavations.

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  • Recent projects

    Successful Foul Drainage Tests Facilitate Residential Development in Devon

    It was proposed to construct a foul water drainage field at a proposed residential development site in South Devon. Ruddlesden geotechnical undertook in-situ percolation tests in accordance with Building Regulations drainage and waste disposal Approved Document H. Infiltration rates (percolation values) were provided for use in the design of the drainage field. As there was no mains drainage in the area, if the infiltration rates had been unsuitable for foul drainage, this would have precluded the development of the site.

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